Mentorship on the Road

Wallis has made a career out of training and guiding other drivers. “I’ve been training ever since I started with Freymiller,” he said. “I’m a mentor to probably about 10 different people who have moved from training into their own trucks.”

His dedication extends beyond teaching maneuvering and safety. Wallis brings his own experience from competitive driving to the table. Winning the 2024 Oklahoma Truck Driving Championship in the Sleeper Berth division qualified him for national competition, but accolades are not his main focus.

Bill Woolsey, Freymiller’s director of safety, praised Wallis’s commitment: “With over 15 years as a driver trainer, Toby has mentored countless trainees, guiding them to become successful, professional drivers. His dedication to sharing his knowledge and fostering safe driving habits has shaped the next generation of drivers, strengthening our fleet’s overall performance.”

Advocacy and Industry Engagement

Wallis’s recognition as TCA Professional Driver of the Year also gave him opportunities to engage with broader industry issues. He participated in TCA’s Call on Washington last September, meeting lawmakers to discuss challenges such as parking shortages, cargo theft, and highway conditions.

“It’s interesting to see some of the behind-the-scenes activities, and something of the way laws are created,” Wallis said. “I knew (TCA and the trucking industry) were lobbying for legislation, but to see how that process actually works and getting to talk to people — that’s always been interesting to me.”

A Career That Started Unexpectedly

Like many professional drivers, Wallis didn’t start his career planning to be on the road. “I was working at a sheetrock company, and their driver was quitting,” he said. “They told me that if I got my CDL, they’d pay me more.” He earned his Class B CDL, later completing Class A training at Schneider, and eventually joined Freymiller in 2005.

Balancing life on the road with family responsibilities has shaped his approach. “My wife passed away about 12 years ago, so it’s pretty much just me, my mom, and my grandmother,” he said. “As long as I can come in and check on them and talk to them regularly, I don’t see any reason to come off the road.”

Wallis also has three adult children, proudly noting that his youngest earned a master’s degree. “No grandkids yet, but they’ve got to hurry up before I’m too old,” he joked.

Supporting Veterans and Mental Health

A former medivac crew chief in the U.S. Army, Wallis earned a psychology degree using the GI Bill, helping him manage PTSD and informing his work supporting others. “It helped me a lot with my PTSD, and I try to use my brain as much as possible,” he said.

He volunteers on a mental health hotline, focusing on veterans but assisting anyone in need. “On Wednesdays and Sundays, and once in a while as a fill-in, I run a mental health hotline,” he said. “We lean more towards veterans, but we help everybody.”

Passion for the Profession

Wallis’s approach to driving blends professionalism with personal fulfillment. “I enjoy getting out here and meeting new people, doing new things, going new places. It’s always something different every day to me,” he said. “What I really love about my job is being out on the open road — but also the fact that I get to be a trainer. I get to help bring up the new group of drivers out here and teach them some of the old ways of doing things, along with some of the new technology.”

He offers practical advice for newer drivers: “Be a truck driver, not a steering wheel holder. Stay aware of your surroundings. Keep a smile on your face, and never take anything personally.”

Wallis emphasizes attitude and outlook as key factors in a long and fulfilling driving career. “If you enjoy it, it’s a career,” he said. “As soon as you start calling it a job, you’re going to start looking for something else.”

Woolsey summarized Wallis’s impact on the fleet and the industry: “Toby consistently sets a high standard, proudly representing our company on the road and with our customers. His professionalism, safety record, and positive attitude make him a role model for all our drivers, enhancing our company’s reputation in the industry.”

Wallis, however, keeps it simple: “I’m a firm believer that every day is a new gift from God.”

Source: The Trucker

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After serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1978 to 1984, Carter started his post-military career working at a box plant for furniture. He quickly realized that factory work was not for him.

“I got tired of looking at four walls all of the time,” Carter said.

The solution was to carry on a family legacy.

“My dad was a truck driver, and he suggested that I give it a shot,” Carter said.

The first step was to go to trucking school, he said, adding that he was trained at Isothermal Community College in Forest City, North Carolina, which was affiliated with New Jersey-based Coretta Trucking.

“They had a satellite terminal right across the street from the terminal, and that’s where my dad worked, at Coretta Trucking,” Carter said.

Once he completed training, he drove the team with his dad for about eight months, allowing the two to spend time together while Carter gained real-world experience.

“Then Dad had to do something else — and my wife didn’t like for me to be gone three weeks out of the month,” he said. The search was on for a job that would allow him to drive and still spend quality time with his family.

“Sometimes you’ve got to get a little experience so you can move on to something else,” Carter said. “I had to find my way until I found the right trucking company for me, which was Cargo Transporters.”

Twenty-four years later, he’s still driving for the same company — and working to make the trucking industry better.

“I’m out for a week. I’m home every weekend,” he said. “I can count on one hand the times I’ve been out on a weekend. That’s good. Not a lot of companies try to make that a priority.”

Carter counts being able to see new places and travel around the country as his favorite part of being a trucker.

“It’s never the same scenery. That’s what I like about it,” he explained. “You get to meet all kinds of people from all over the country. I always say I have an office with a view.

“If you’re not learning something every day in truck driving, there’s something wrong,” he continued.

Of the many challenges faced by professional drivers, Carter says a shortage of safe truck parking and traffic congestion are the ones that affect him the most, particularly in larger metropolitan areas.

“If I take my time in the big cities and just mind the space around my truck, before you know it — 10, 15 minutes, maybe 20 minutes — I’m through it without any kind of hassle,” he said of urban traffic.

“But you’re always keeping your head on a swivel around you with the traffic around the big trucks. It’s just that the general public doesn’t realize what it takes for a truck to maneuver in traffic,” he continued. “They’re trying to get from Point A to Point B, just like we are, and they don’t want to be behind the truck. That’s why they’re always zooming around.”

A consummate professional both on and off the road, Carter has been recognized with several accolades, including being named a 2025 Professional Driver of the Year by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), a 2024-2025 Road Team for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and Cargo Transporters’ November 2024 Driver of the Month.

Most recently, Carter was honored as the 2025 DMC Insurance Driver of the Year. He is the only Cargo Transport driver to win both the TCA and DMC awards.

“Perry exemplifies what it means to be a professional driver, a servant leader, and an industry ambassador,” said Matthew Sheffield, marketing and public relations coordinator at Cargo Transporters. “He has the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and community service, and is a powerful voice for veteran causes and a dedicated advocate within the trucking community.”

According to TCA, with 2.8 million accident-free miles and decades of experience, Carter sets the standard for safety, humility, and service.

Carter is humble when speaking about all that he has achieved in his career, but all the same, he is very aware of the honors he’s earned, particularly the TCA driver of the year award and being named a captain for ATA’s road team.

“I was driving through Tennessee one morning and listening to the Dave Nemo Show, and they announced my name over the radio,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘Man, that was awesome!’” Carter said.

For Carter, earning all the accolades he has received has been both exciting and overwhelming. He credits his family, mentors, and his faith in helping him achieve his dreams. Outside of work, Carter enjoys taking his wife Carolyn out to dinner and playing golf.

“Perry is deeply committed to supporting fellow veterans through efforts like Wreaths Across America and organizations such as Purple Heart Homes and American Warriors of Liberty,” a statement from TCA reads.

“He proudly represented Cargo Transporters as a Ride of Pride driver in both 2018 and 2023. Beyond his professional achievements, Perry also demonstrates remarkable devotion to his family,” the statement continues. “He has rearranged his work schedule to be there for his wife, Carolyn, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and cares for his disabled brother who lives with them.”

Through his service, advocacy, and compassion, Perry Carter continues to inspire others.

This story originally appeared in the September/October 2025 edition of Truckload Authority, the official publication of the Truckload Carriers Association.

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: Cargo Transporters

The post Perry Carter, TCA Professional Driver of the Year: ‘If you’re not learning something every day, there’s something wrong’ appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Jackson shared his story recently through a Landstar blog post, giving insight into the roots of his trucking career.

A Childhood Marked by Grease and a Wooden Spoon

Jackson traces his trucking journey back 46 years to when he was just five years old. He recalls, “It all started 46 years ago, when I was just 5 years old … with a smear of grease and a wooden spoon.”

As a child, he helped his father and grandfather while they worked on their trucks, fetching water and coffee for them. “In return, they would put a little smear of grease on my arm to signify I was their helper,” he explained. “I wore that grease stain with pride.”

Over time, he progressed from helper to “wrench grabber,” earning short rides in his father’s truck to nearby terminals to pick up loads. “Before leaving, I would sneak a wooden cooking spoon from the kitchen, sit in the sleeper and simulate my father shifting gears,” Jackson remembered.

The moment he got to practice shifting “for real” beside his father was pivotal. Standing near the driver’s seat, moving the gear stick up and down, he was hooked. “That was it! I was sold on becoming a truck driver,” he said.

Building a Career Through Trials and Triumphs

Jackson began driving professionally at 23, and in 1998, with family support, he purchased his first truck.

However, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought immense challenges. Forced to evacuate New Orleans, Jackson was hauling blue tarps for a Landstar agent contracted by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Reflecting on that time, he said, “I wasn’t prepared for what I saw once I was able to work my way into the city with relief supplies. We lost everything!”

In response, Landstar offered financial support through their BCO Benevolence Fund, established in 2005 to aid owner-operators in times of crisis. Jackson expressed gratitude, stating, “That (assistance) spoke volumes about the company I had just leased to. I knew I was going to be here until I retire.”

Now in his 21st year with Landstar, Jackson plans to donate a portion of his $20,000 prize from the TCA Professional Driver of the Year award back to the Benevolence Fund.

Giving Back Through Service and Mentorship

Jackson’s commitment to the trucking community extends beyond his own success. After Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in 2017, he actively hauled disaster relief loads. Later, he spent 16 months in Puerto Rico helping coordinate fuel truck dispatch and deliveries following Hurricane Irma. “I thought I’d spend a month or two, but ended up staying for 16 months,” he said.

Back stateside in 2019, Jackson expanded his business by leasing additional trucks to provide opportunities for other drivers to build experience and income.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite supply shortages and many trucks being sidelined, Jackson increased his fleet size to keep others on the road. “I chose to stay on the road among other ‘essential workers,’” he noted.

Now a small-fleet owner, Jackson focuses on mentoring new operators. He helps them with credit, setting up business accounts, and selecting the right truck. “I strive to prepare newer operators for success in their own truck someday,” he said.

Safety as a Cornerstone of Professionalism

For Jackson, safety is paramount. “You’re not just driving for you, but also for everyone around you,” he emphasized. “As a professional driver, it’s my duty to make sure everyone around me remains safe. A professional maintains a clear vision of their surroundings, obstacles, potential hazards, and has an emergency plan of action at any given moment.”

He also enjoys the simple moments of the road, saying, “I like to ride in the right lane in a clean, shiny truck, especially when I see a kid in a car rolling up, pumping an arm up and down as a signal for me to toot the air horn.”

Owning 12 trucks today, Jackson’s passion still connects him to his roots — the grease on his arm and shifting a spoon in his mother’s kitchen.

Image Source: Landstar Systems Inc.
Source: Ginger Jewell, Landstar Corporate Communications, Truckload Authority Staff, The Trucker

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